Cantilever rack



CANTILEVER BACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1963 II E I E U United States Patent 3,212,648 CANTILEVER RACK Edward A. Baker, Jr., Drayton Piains, and Lee Z. Hall, Huntington Woods, MiclL, assignors t0 Palmer-Slide Company, Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Nov. 18, 1963, Ser. No. 324,313 6 (Ilaims. (Cl. 211-177) This invention relates to cantilever racks, and more particularly to adjustable cantilever racks adapted to store industrial items such as bars, rods, tubes, channels, sheets, and other industrial material.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved cantilever rack of this type which affords a high degree of stability, strength, and safety, and which may be constructed and assembled with a substantial saving of time, labor, and material.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description, the appended claims, and the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the lower portion of a cantilever rack constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIGURE 2 is an end elevational view of a rack of the type shown in FIGURE 1, but with the supporting arms positioned in a different arrangement;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevational view thereof;

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged end elevational view of one of the supporting arms taken in the direction of the arrows 4-4 of FIGURE 5;

FIGURE 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, end elevational view showing the manner in which the supporting arm mounting brackets coact with the mounting pins;

FIGURE 6 is a top plan view of the construction shown in FIGURE 5; and

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary plan view taken along the line 7-7 of FIGURE 2 and showing the construction of the base.

Briefly, the illustrated embodiment of the invention comprises .a plurality of upwardly tapered interconnected columns each having a substantially rectangular cross section, the columns having bases in parallel relation with each base comprising a pair of interconnected elongated steel members on opposite sides of the column. Each column has rows of vertically arranged inclined apertures of rectangular shape, and these are adapted to receive pins of similar rectangular cross-sectional shape. A plurality of load supporting arms are provided, each arm being of tapered shape and having a supporting bracket secured to its wider end. The bracket is of channel-shaped construction and is adapted to fit around a column in such manner that the load supporting arm will be tilted slightly inwardly toward the column. Each bracket has a pair of apertures through which the pin extends, the inner edges of the apertures being inclined at the same angle as the facing pin surface so that the bracket will engage the pin with area or surface contact, camming or wedging the bracket tightly against the column.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the rack, which is preferably formed of steel, is generally indicated at 11 and comprises a pair of bases each of which is generally indicated at 12, a pair of columns each of which is generally indicated at 13 and a plurality of load supporting arms each of which is generally indicated at 14, as well as interconnecting means generally indicated at 15 between columns 13.

Each base comprises a pair of channel-shaped members 16 and 17, as seen in FIGURE 3, these members being 3,212,648 Patented Oct. 19, 1965 in back-to-back spaced relation and having inturned flanges. The backs of the members 16 and 17 are secured to the lower ends of the column 13 and connecting plates 18 and 19 are provided at the lower ends of the members 16 and 17. Channel-shaped reinforcing bars 21 may also be provided, these being secured to the web portions of the members 16 and 17 as seen in FIGURES 2 and 3, but being shorter than the total length of the base.

The construction of each column 13 is seen in FIG- URES 2, 3 and 6. The column is fabricated of two sections 22 and 23, indicated in FIGURE 6, these sections being symmetrical and of generally channel shape with inturned flanges which are secured together to form a generally rectangular open section. The shapes of the members 22 and 23 are such that, when viewed from the end as in FIGURE 2, each column 13 tapers upwardly, being slightly narrower at the top than at the bottom. The channel-shaped reinforcing members 24 may be secured to the lower portions of the columns 13, as seen in FIGURE 7.

Interconnecting means 15 comprises horizontal members 25 and diagonal and vertical members 26, the horizontal members being secured to cars 27 on the facing surfaces of the columns 13, these surfaces and the ones opposite them being those to which bases 12 are secured. It will be realized of course that any number of columns, in addition to the two illustrated, may be secured together in the manner shown in FIGURES 1 and 3, each column having its own base 12 and ears 27 on its opposite sides.

In the embodiment of the invention illustrated, each supporting arm 14 is fabricated of two generally channelshaped but tapered sections 28 and 29 secured together, as seen in FIGURE 4. These sections are similar in shape but have overlapping lower edges, the section 28 being slightly larger than section 29 for this purpose. The upper portions of the sections 28 and 29 have flush surfaces for load supporting purposes. The sections have flanges 31 at their upper portions which are secured together, and overlapping lower portions. The sections are so shaped that each supporting arm 14 tapers in a direction away from column 13, when viewed from either the side or the top, as seen in FIGURES 2 and 6, respectively, thus enabling a substantial saving in material while taking into account the variation in shear and bending loads along the arm.

The wider end of each supporting arm 14 is provided with a mounting bracket 32 as seen in FIGURES 5 and 6. Each bracket 32 comprises a channel-shaped member, the web portion of which is secured to the wider end of the arm 14 and the sides of which are adapted to fit around the surfaces of the column 13 to which the base 12 is attached. The construction is such that when the web portion of each bracket 32 is flush with the facing surface of the column 13, as seen in FIGURE 6, the upper surface of the corresponding arm 14 will be tilted slightly upwardly and inwardly, as seen in FIGURE 2.

In the double-sided rack shown (the rack may also be made with the supporting arms extending only from one side of the columns), four rows of apertures 33 are provided in each column 13, the rows being in two pairs with apertures in each pair of rows being horizontally aligned in a direction at right angles to the extent of supports 14 and at any desired vertical spacing. The apertures 33 are of inclined rectangular shape, that is, with their side edges extending downwardly and away from the surfaces of the column 13 which face the supports 14.

The flanges of the brackets 32 are preferably wide enough to overlap several pairs of aligned apertures 33 when the brackets 32 are placed in the positions shown in FIGURES 5 and 6. The upper flange portions of each bracket have a pair of horizontally aligned apertures 34 of trapezoidal shape, the apertures 34 being larger in both directions than the apertures 33 and having side edges 35 inclined at the same angle as the side edges of apertures 33. A pin 36 of rectangular cross-sectional shape is insertable through the apertures 34 and 33when a pair of apertures 34 on any bracket 32 are aligned with a pair of apertures 33. The cross-sectional shapes of pins 36 are identical and such that they will be slidably receivable by the apertures 33 but without appreciable play after they are inserted. The edges 35 of the apertures 34 on the brackets 32 will engage the surfaces 37 of the pins 36 which face away from the corresponding support 14, as seen in FIGURE 5. The arrangement is such that this engagement will cause the load supports 14 to be cammed or wedged toward the columns 13 with the web portion of the bracket 32 being forced into tight frictional engagement with the facing surface of the columns 13 so that a substantial portion of the load on the supports is transmitted to the columns through the web portions of the brackets 32 and all of the load on the supports 14 is not transmitted to the columns through the pins 36. The apertures 34 are positioned high enough on the brackets 32 to counteract the moment forces created on the supports 14 by the load thereon, thus holding the supports firmly in position. The pins 36 are longer than the distance between the aligned apertures 34, and a pair of rubber grommets 38 may be fri-ctionally slipped over the ends of each pin to hold it in position.

In use, the supports 14 may be mounted at any desired height on the columns 13, with at least two supports 14 being ordinarily placed in horizontal alignment for supporting bars, rods, tubes, or other industrial material. As mentioned above, more than two columns 13 may be secured together by connecting means 15, and the columns may be made with only a single pair of rows of apertures 33 instead of two pairs as seen in the drawings, in which case the bases 12 would extend to only one side of the columns.

The tapered construction of each column 13, together with the construction of the supports 14 and brackets 32, will result in a slight upward tilting of the supports even when they are fully loaded with several tons of material so that even though the supports deflect an inch or more at the ends under load, there is still a slight upward tilt of the upper surface of each support which prevents the material stored thereon from rolling oif the free ends of the supports. In addition, the tapered construction of the columns serves to reduce the moment arm at the top of the column with the result that the load on the supports will never be beyond the free ends of the bases 12, thereby increasing the safety of the free standing bases and insuring that minimum aisle space requirements will maintained when the racks are loaded.

The pin-and-aperture engagement will be an area or surface contact, rather than a point or line contact, because of the rectangular cross-sectional shape of each pin 36 and the fact that the edges 35 of the apertures 34 which engage the pin are inclined at the same angle as the surface which they engage thereby reducing the stress concentrations in the pins, columns, and brackets, and increasing the reliability and effectiveness of the supporting means.

While it will be apparent that the preferred embodiment of the invention disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the objects above stated, it will be appreciated that the invention is susceptible to modification, variation and change without departing from the proper scope or fair meaning of the subjoined claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a cantilever rack, a column of rectangular crosssectional shape, a base secured to the bottom of said column, a load supporting arm, a channel-shaped bracket secured to the inner end of said arm and adapted to fit around said column, rows of vertically spaced apertured portions in said column, a pin slidably insertable through said apertures, and apertured portions in the flanges of said bracket having inclined edges engageable with a pin passing through the apertured portions of said bracket on the side of said pin remote from said arm, said edges extending downwardly and away from the corresponding arm so that the weight of a load on said arm will cause said bracket to be wedged against said column.

2. In a cantilever rack, a column of rectangular crosssectional shape, a base secured to the bottom of said column, a load supporting arm, a channel-shaped bracket secured to the inner end of said arm and adapted to fit around said column, two rows of vertically spaced apertured portions in opposite sides of said column, the apertures in the two rows being horizontally aligned and being of identical rectangular shape, said apertures being inclined with their side edges extending downwardly and away from the surface of said column which faces a load supporting arm mounted thereon, a pin having the same rectangular cross-sectional shape as said apertures and being slidably receivable by any pair of aligned apertures so as to extend outwardly therefrom on both sides, and a pair of horizontally aligned apertured portions of trapezoidal shape in the flanges of said bracket adapted to overlap any selected pair of aligned column apertures, side edges of said bracket apertures being inclined at the same angle as said column apertures but being longer than the column apertures in a vertical direction, whereby said bracket aperture edges will engage the projecting ends of a corresponding pin with area contact to wedge the bracket against said column.

3. In a cantilever rack, a column of rectangular crosssectional shape, the column being tapered so as to be narrower at the top than at the bottom, a base secured to the bottom of said column, a load supporting arm, a channelshaped bracket secured to the inner end of said arm and adapted to fit around said column, the arm tapering from a wide inner end to a narrow outer end when viewed both horizontally and vertically, two rows of vertically spaced apertured portions in opposite sides of said column, the apertures in the two rows being horizontally aligned and being of identical rectangular shape, said apertures being inclined with their side edges extending downwardly and away from the surface of said column which faces a load supporting arm mounted thereon, a pin having the same rectangular cross-sectional shape as said apertures and being slidably receivable by any pair of aligned apertures so as to extend outwardly therefrom on :both sides, and a pair of horizontally aligned apertured portions of trapezoidal shape in the flanges of said bracket adapted to overlap any selected pair of aligned column apertures, side edges of said bracket apertures being inclined at the same angle as said column apertures, but being longer than the column apertures in a vertical direction, whereby said bracket aperture edges will engage the projecting ends of a corresponding pin with area contact to wedge the bracket against said column.

4. In a cantilever rack, two columns of open generally rectangular cross-sectional shape, opposite end surfaces of each column tapering slightly toward each other in an upward direction, each of the opposite side surfaces of each column having two rows of vertically spaced apertured portions, apertures on opposite sides of each column being aligned, the apertures having identical rectangular cross-sectional shapes with side edges inclined inwardly toward the central column axis, the columns being in horizontally spaced relation with facing side surfaces secured together by interconnecting members, a base secured to the lower end of each column, each base being of elongated shape and extending outwardly from the opposite end surfaces of the corresponding column, a plurality of load supporting arms, each arm comprising an elongated mem ber of open generally rectangular cross-sectional shape, a mounting bracket secured to the inner end of each member, said mounting bracket being of U-shaped cross section and adapted to fit around either column, aligned trapezoidally shaped apertured portions in the flanges of each bracket, and pins of rectangular cross sectional shape adapted to be slidably mounted in any selected pair of aligned column apertures and extending outwardly from the sides thereof through a pair of bracket apertures, the edges of said flange apertures engageable with the sides of said pins remote from the corresponding arm being inclined at the same angle as said column aperture edges so as to engage the pin with area contact and wedge the bracket against the column.

5. In a cantilever rack, a column having oppositely facing interconnected side surfaces, at least one pair of horizontally aligned apertured portions in said side surfaces, said apertured portions having straight side edges, an elongated load supporting arm having a bracket secured to its inner end, said bracket having a pair of parallel flanges in overlapping relation with the oppositely facing side surfaces of said column, a pin having flat sides adapted to be slidably inserted through said column apertures, and a pair of aligned apertured portions in said bracket flanges adapted to receive said pin when so inserted, said bracket 20 apertures having straight edges engageable with one of said flat pin sides with area contact when said pin is so inserted.

6. The combination according to claim 5, said column apertures being of rectangular shape, said column having a surface at right angles to said side surfaces, the side edges of said column apertures being inclined downwardly and away from said last-mentioned column surface, said pin having a rectangular cross-sectional shape so as to fit slidably within said column apertures, said bracket apertures being of trapezoidal shape with said one edge inclined at the same angle as said column apertures.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 479,424 7/92 Huff et al 248-224 X 656,456 8/00 Hirsch 248224 X 2,925,920 2/60 Skubic 211148 X 2,937,763 5/60 Ingold 21l177 X 3,044,634 7/62 OZtekin 108108 X FOREIGN PATENTS 307,5 87 1955 Switzerland.

CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner. 

1. IN A CANTILEVER RACK, A COLUMN OF RECTANGULAR CROSSSECTIONAL SHAPE, A BASE SECURED TO THE BOTTOM OF SAID COLUMN, A LOAD SUPPORTING ARM, A CHANNEL-SHAPED BRACKET SECURED TO THE INNER END OF SAID ARM AND ADAPTED TO FIT AROUND SAID COLUMN, ROWS OF VERTICALLY SPACED APERTURED PORTIONS IN SAID COLUMN, A PIN SLIDABLY INSERTABLE TROUGH SAID APERTURES, AND APERTURED PORTIONS IN THE FLANGES OF SAID BRACKET HAVING INCLINED EDGES ENGAGEABLE WITH A PIN PASSING THROUGHH THE APERTURED PORTIONS OF SAID BRACKET ON THE SIDE OF SAID PIN REMOTE FROM SAID ARM, SAID EDGES EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY AND AWAY FROM TE CORRESPONDING ARM SO THAT THE WEIGT OF A LOAD ON SAID ARM WILL CAUSE SAID BRACKET TO BE WEDGED AGAINST SAID COLUMN. 